Feed restriction during late lactation in primiparous sows results in increased catabolism and has traditionally resulted in reduced litter gains, a marginal increase in the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI), and reduced embryonic survival and development to day 30 of gestation in the subsequent litter. However, in recent studies even these detrimental effects have not been consistently observed. Even when sows are induced to lose large amounts of body weight during late lactation, the resulting WEI and embryonic survival rates are comparable to sows that lose marginal amounts of body weight. An established experimental design was used to study the effect of feed restriction during the last week of lactation in primiparous sows on litter growth, WEI and embryonic growth and development. As an extension of these investigations, the effect of feed restriction during late lactation on feed intake and sow metabolic state between weaning and breeding was also examined. Control (CON) sows were fed their predicted voluntary feed intake from day 15 to day 21 of lactation, restrict (RES) sows were fed 50% of their predicted voluntary feed intake over the same period. As expected, 50% feed restriction between day 15 and day 21 (weaning) of lactation resulted in greater body weight and backfat loss, and compromised litter gains in RES compared to CON sows. However, between weaning and breeding RES sows consumed more feed and gained more weight and backfat depth than CON sows, resulting in no significant differences in weight or backfat depth at breeding. There were no significant effects of treatment on sow reproductive parameters as measured by WEI, ovulation rate, embryo number and survival, or embryo characteristics. It was concluded that under good management practices, acceptable production performance is achievable even in first parity sows that are catabolic after weaning. 93% of sows returned to estrus within 10 days, 100% of sows were bred, and 89% conception rate was achieved. Maximizing feed intake of first parity sows after weaning may negate short-term detrimental effects of lactational catabolism.